Former B.C. children’s watchdog sues province

Former children’s rights watchdog Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is suing the B.C. government, alleging a breach of contract for not providing her with promised pension benefits.

Turpel-Lafond, who finished her term early last fall as the B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, filed documents in court last Friday that claim the province acted in “malice and bad faith” by not providing a verbally agreed upon 18 months of pension per year served.

A Ministry of Justice statement confirms the province has received the notice of claim.

“Counsel will review the allegations and prepare a response in due course,” the statement reads. “As the matter is before the courts, we have no further comment.”